Saturday, 25th March, 2023
Said Eucharist
Annunciation of the Lord

Introduction

Greeting

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The president briefly welcomes the congregation.

I will go to the altar of my God:
Even to the God of my joy and gladness.

Confession and absolution

Our help is in the name of the Lord:
Who made the heavens and the earth.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we confess to you and to our siblings in Christ that we have sinned in our thoughts and in our words, in things done and in things left undone. We are truly sorry. Forgive and free us from our sins, we pray, give us strength and show us your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

May the Lord of compassion, who forgives all those who truly repent, have + mercy upon you, lay aside your sins and bring you to reign with Them in glory, through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Will you not turn again, O Lord, and give us life:
That your people may rejoice in you?

Kyrie

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Collects

Silence is kept.

Lord, whose angel announced to Mary the good news of your salvation, let us live in the knowledge of your Gospel, that our lives may proclaim your truth to all we meet; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

First reading: Isaiah 7:10–14

A reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

For the word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 45

My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king.My tongue is like the pen of a skilful writer.

You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips,therefore God has blessed you forever.

Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one:your splendour and your majesty.

In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness.Let your right hand display awesome deeds.

Your arrows are sharp.The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.

Your throne, God, is forever and ever.A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of your kingdom.

You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness.Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia.Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.

Kings’ daughters are amongst your honourable women.At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.

Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear.Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.

So the king will desire your beauty,honour him, for he is your lord.

The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift.The rich amongst the people entreat your favour.

The princess inside is all glorious.Her clothing is interwoven with gold.

She shall be led to the king in embroidered work.The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.

With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led.They shall enter into the king’s palace.

Your sons will take the place of your fathers.You shall make them princes in all the earth.

I will make your name to be remembered in all generations.Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever, world without end. Amen.

Second reading: Hebrews 10:4–10

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, “See, God, I have come to do your will, O God” (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).’ When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sin-offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘See, I have come to do your will.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

For the word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Gospel: Luke 1:26–38

And the Word became flesh, and made his home among us, and we have seen his glory, as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God forever.

+++ Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke:
Praise to you, O Lord.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

Thanks be to you, O Lord, for this your glorious Gospel:
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father, through whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven; who was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human; who was crucified for our sake under Pontius Pilate; who suffered, died and was buried; who rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; who ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there will be no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the lifegiver, who procedes from the Father; who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We await the resurrection of the dead, and the + life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of intercession

Prayers of intercession are said.

Liturgy of the Sacrament

Peace

We meet in Christ’s name:
Let us share his peace.

The congregation offer one another a sign of peace.

Offertory

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for by your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made; it shall become for us the bread of life. Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for by your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands; it shall become the cup of our salvation. Blessed be God forever.

Eucharistic prayer

The Lord be with you:
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts:
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God:
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Heavenly Creator, all glory, praise and thanksgiving belong to you, for by your power you uphold our very being. Your Holy Spirit is eternally at work in us, breathing life into all things and weaving our lives into your dream for the world. Through your Word made flesh you have redeemed us, making us whole through his death and glorious resurrection.

As a holy people rejoicing to do your work, we offer you our praise, with angels and archangels, with our Lady Mary and all the saints, and the whole company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
+ Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Almighty God, blessed is your name in all creation, for Christ your Son in whom all things are reconciled. Through him the broken are healed, the lost are found and the outcast made welcome. His table is set that all who hunger may eat and be satisfied.

For, on the night when he was betrayed to his death, at supper with his disciples, he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, gave you thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Therefore, merciful Lord, we recall all that Jesus did among us: his birth in Bethlehem; his death on the cross; his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension. In faith, hope and love we offer to God these our gifts of sacrifice, together with our souls and bodies, that Christ may dwell evermore in us and we in him.

To this end, O God, we humbly ask that you send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and this wine, that by the power of the Spirit they may become the body and blood of your dear Son, that we may be strengthened in faith, emboldened in love and empowered to walk in your grace and truth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom and in whom, in the union of the Holy Spirit, all praise and glory and honour be to you, Lord of all ages, world without end. Amen.

Breaking of bread

The president breaks the bread.

The living bread is broken for the life of the world:
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into the time of trial, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

Communion

The ministers and congregation receive Communion.

At the giving of the bread:
The body of Christ, the bread of life. Amen.

At the giving of the cup:
The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Amen.

Prayers after communion

Give thanks to the Lord, for They are gracious:
And Their mercy endures forever.

Lord God Almighty, we thank you for this holy meal of the body and blood of your dear Son. Help us to be examples by his great example, and be witnesses to your justice and mercy in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe. Amen.
May the Lord make Their face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Amen.
May the Lord lift Their face to you and give you peace. Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, + the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
+ In the name of Christ. Amen.